Head of Programmes and Events

From JISJ to Access Academia

When the Journal of Intersectional Social Justice (JISJ) was created by Avery Benton, there were not any expectations for the project to be any more than that: a student-led academic publication. However, as the year rolled on, attention for the project widened and the project began to cover other topics and get involved in other realms of knowledge sharing, activism, and content creation. The creation of the seminal series, the Access Series, featured on the blog publication Intersections, springboarded the idea for the JISJ to turn into something much more than a simple academic publication. Now with charity registration looming ahead, the JISJ has undertaken a rebranding in anticipation of our official registration as a charity incorporated organisation (CIO) in the UK (application pending).

Access Academia

Access Academia is a student-led charitable initiative founded in 2021. We promote student research and community dialogue on issues of intersectional social justice, such as race, gender, and sexuality. Our team consists of 30+ students and researchers based in the UK, Europe, Middle East, Asia, and the US. We are in the process of being registered as a charity in the UK. We publish the multidisciplinary Journal for Intersectional Social Justice and Intersections blog, both of which showcase student research on social justice topics, including climate change, gender equality, queer rights, anti-racism, decolonization practices, and the visibility of marginalised communities and more! Access Academia also runs the online publication, Intersections, housed on Medium.

We value diversity, inclusivity, and the active participation of individuals from all backgrounds. We are committed to providing equal opportunities and creating an inclusive work environment. Join our team and contribute to our mission of promoting intersectional social justice.

Disclaimer: All of our roles are unpaid, volunteer roles! All applicants applying thus acknowledge that this is an unpaid, but much appreciated, labour role and agree to volunteer their time as advertised on the role requirements. We thank all applicants for their commitment to social justice and change and for their willingness to commit their time and energy to our project! Benefits are expected to include 20 days’ holiday, up to 3 days’ paid holiday, bank holidays and the benefit of always working remotely – no office commuting, and a starting salary of up to GBP 14,000. Salary is a base expectation but is strongly subjected to the amount of funding Access Academia receives in its first instance of grant applications. Salaries are expected to expand to up to GBP 20,000 for a part-time role within the next 3-4 years as a long-term sustainable funding goal of the project.

Role Overview

The Head of Programmes and Events is a Senior Staff role with Access Academia. This position reports to the Director of Outreach and Marketing and CEO and is responsible for planning and organising various programmes and events related to social justice and research. The main purpose of this role is to develop and execute strategies and logistics on programme and event level, including liaison with stakeholders and volunteers. This role is a part-time role, with expected max 18-20 working hours per week.

Job Description

• Identify and research funding or grant opportunities to realise programmes and events
• Understand the objectives and interests of Access Academia and funders, partners or stakeholders to adapt programmes and events for mutual benefit
• Communicate strategically with the Access Academia team and funders, partners, speakers or stakeholders to ensure successful delivery of programmes and events
• Be the primary point of contact regarding programmes and events and proactively address enquiries with support of the Access Academia team
• Manage programme and event budgets, including maintaining financial records and processing payments with support of the Access Academia team
• Recruit, train and coordinate volunteers to ensure successful delivery of programmes and events
• Devise strategies and mechanisms to evaluate the performance of programmes and events
• Develop programme and event academic materials, proposals, marketing materials, presentations and reports for funders, partners, speakers, stakeholders and participants with support of the Access Academia team
• Create unique academic-based programmes, collaborations, and Fellowship opportunities with the Access Academia team

Person Specifications

• Prior experience in programme and event management, bid writing or related work
• Degree in marketing, social sciences, or related field
• Recent graduate 2> years preferred, current final year students or graduate students encouraged to apply
• Strong organisational and time management skills in remote team environment
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with stakeholders
• Ability to work independently with self-initiative and responsively with external parties
• Passion for social justice and intersectional issues
• Experience in running hybrid events is a plus